Hooray for Tax Day!

Really, it's Tax Deadline Day. You can either have them filed by today or file an extension by today. Either way, the way April 15th is portrayed on television lately, it seems like it might become another Hallmark Holiday...I can see it now: "Heard about your Refund! Congratulations, and when is the party?" Or, in more somber colors: "Sorry for your loss. Time heals all gouged wallets." The observance, as I'm sure we'll see on the local stations during the news, consists of waiting patiently in line at the main post office in Manhattan and submitting your carefully completed and copied forms to a slit in the wall. Then you have to slink away quietly, making no eye-contact with other revelers.

Personally, I've never waited until April 15th. When I was single, I always got a refund, and I wanted my cash back! Now, I just let me husband handle it. I just point to the drawer where my papers SHOULD be, and hope all goes well. It works for me.

In honor of this most important American Holiday, I thought perhaps "Money, Money" from Cabaret would work well. Then again, T.S. Eliot has such a lovely opening to "The Waste Land" about April. But no, I love Cabaret, and "Money, Money" it shall be. I believe Fred Ebb wrote the lyrics for Cabaret, so I'll give him the credit for now.

from "Money, Money"

If you happen to be rich, and you feel like a night's entertainment,
You can pay for a gay escapade.
If you happen to be rich, and alone and you need a companion,
You can ring ting-a-ling for the maid.
If you happen to be rich and you find you are left by your lover,
Tho you moan and you groan quite a lot,
You can take it on the chin,
Call a cab and begin to recover on your fourteen carat yacht.

Money makes the world go around,
The world go around, the world go around,
Money makes the world go around,
Of that we both are sure.
Phhhthhhht! on being poor.

When you haven't any coal in the stove and you freeze in the winter
And you curse to the wind at your fate
When you haven't any shoes on your feet and your coat's thin as paper
And you look thirty pounds underweight,
When you go to get a word of advice from the fat little pastor,
He will tell you to love evermore.
But when hunger comes to rap, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat, at the window
See how love flies out the door!

For money makes the world go around, the world go around,
The world go around.

Community Board 7 Meeting (partial rundown)

Sadly, I had to leave at 8 PM, so if anyone heard the public comments, and if there was anything of interest, please send the information along to bestviewinbrooklyn (at) yahoo.com.

While waiting for a quorum (attained at 6:50 PM), Randy Peers called up all interested residents to streamline the process. My concerns (stop signs for around the park and the recent gunpoint muggings) were referred to Jeremy Laufer, the district manager, and since he wasn't there, he'll be getting some emails/calls some time today or tomorrow.

Peers then had a couple of presenters give announcements (still pre-quorum). Here's what they had to say:

From the DOT: The Hamilton Avenue Bridge repairs will cause new lane configurations on June 28th, and the construction will (hopefully) be finished by August 31st.

From the GreenMarket people: The Sunset Park GreenMarket will begin on July 12 and continue through most of November. It will open at 8 AM and continue through 3 PM. The GreenMarket is located at the same place as last year: 4th Avenue and 59th Street. They will accept food stamps, and some of the stands will accept WIC. All of the farmers will be local (500 miles), from NYS and NJ. Call 212 788 7476 or visit www.cenyc.org for more information.

From CB7: There are six new board members. Three new members were present: A lifelong SP resident, Glorisbel Garcia. She is a co-founder of Voices in Power New York, Inc., and she is attending law school; John Carollo, the Commerce Bank manager for the 4th Avenue and 39th Street branch; John Fontillas, a SP resident, an architect, and an adjunct professor at NYU. Not bad: Law, Money, and Development. And there are three more new members to contribute their expertise.

Once quorum was reached, the agenda began. The first report was from Julie Stein-Brockway, the co-director of the Center for Family Life. But tonight she was reporting on the new Sunset Park High School. SPHS has been granted the right to have just one principal with three small learning environments. This constitutes a huge savings in administration costs, and it will allow for a more cohesive community in the school. The new school will be associated with the Institute for Student Achievement. She reported that construction is on schedule, and that the school will open in the fall of 2009. The Sunset Park High School is NOT included in the "big book of schools" that all the current 7th graders took home this week, so spread the word: Sunset Park High School is an option! There will be three groups of 100 9th graders accepted. In addition, 75-100 10th graders will be admitted. A principal has been selected from a large pool, although Ms. Stein-Brockway could not give out HER name. We do know that she is a former principal who now works with the NYC Leadership Academy. Sunset Park has waited a long, long time to have its own school. Hopefully the enthusiasm and hard work of the development team will come to fruition intact.

The Buildings Committee reported on several sites, including 325 20th Street, which has an on-going investigation by the DOB, 562 62nd Street, 1216 Prospect Avenue, and 162 16th Street, where residents of the new condominiums have complained of water damage and black mold - already! Attendees brought up issues regarding 318 52nd Street, which has had a stop work order for months, and youngsters are using the wide open lot as a playpen. Another woman bemoaned the destroyed 6th Avenue brownstones.

The Education Committee just wanted to remind everyone that the Brooklyn Prospect Charter school, set to open in fall 2009 with sixth graders, is open to ALL of district 15 - including Sunset Park! Students and families can find out more and apply here. A location has not yet been set, but since a partner is BAM, chances are it will be up near that area.

The Health and Mental Health Committee is putting together a resource directory for caregivers to the mentally challenged. It will include a listing of services like in-home hair care (and at least two attendees offered to help out with that) and podiatry. This committee has decided to work and meet through the summer, so kudos to them!

The Land Use Committee voted to support the application of a voting machine storage company at 5112 2nd Avenue. There will be no parking lost on the street due to this company; in addition, all loading will take place on their property, not on the street.

And then it was 8 PM. Can anyone give more details regarding the later developments? Any corrections/additions can be sent to bestviewinbrooklyn (at) yahoo (dot) com. Thanks.

Then and Now: St. Jacobi Evangelical Lutheran Church

Several months ago, I discovered (thanks to my better half) the Brooklyn Library's very cool collection of photographs from around Brooklyn. So, once in a while, and when I get decent photos from around the neighborhood, I'll try to do a version of a "Then and Now" comparison for Sunset Park. The first one, only because my photo of PS 169 didn't come out, is of 4th Avenue and 54th Street, looking at St. Jacobi Evangelical Lutheran Church. It hasn't actually changed that much, except for the gate and the new red multi-lingual sign. Enjoy.


This is stamped 1914. Notice it's also when Sunset Park was still considered Bay Ridge.

This is July 2008. Not much different. Even the size of the tree is more or less the same.

Then and Now: Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

It's been a long while since I posted up some Then and Now photos. This isn't quite Sunset Park, but it's close, and the photos are both pretty darn cool.


Vicariously_Me uploaded the above photo to the Best View in Brooklyn photo pool, and it gives me the perfect excuse to share the photograph seen below. According to Tony, who sent this photo to me many months ago, the shot was taken around 1963, while the Verrazano was under construction. He says, "the cables had just been completed and the roadway support wasn't put in yet. The opening of the bridge in 1964 caused the closing of the ferry line" on the 69th Street Pier.

IDT is Still Trying to Get Your Business

A Harlem resident sent out an email about IDT agents trespassing in a coop building. The agents are all over the City, including Sunset Park. I haven't seen any nearby lately, nor have I heard of people knocking on doors recently. It seems that they tend to move very deliberately in one direction. Just a week or so after showing up in South Slope and Greenwood Heights, they turned up in the 40s. Keep an eye out!

What you see below is the text from a letter sent to IDT by this Harlem resident. It includes the link to a youtube video of the adorable agents. No really, they are cute. Too bad they're also obnoxious and taking advantage of fellow human beings during tough times.

On Wednesday, 4/15/09, after being asked to leave, your IDT Agents refused to leave my building, located at [West Harlem address here]. They remained in the building after over 25 minutes of being asked to leave, even though I clarified I was an owner. They also refused to stop bothering my elderly neighbors, after being asked to do so. Additionally they refused to give me a phone number or phone numbers to allow me to call a supervisor to assist in asking them to leave. Then I took out my video camera.

There were two female agents, once wore a pink shirt under her coat and the other a gray beret. The agent in the pink shirt said her brother was her boss and he wouldn't like it if she gave out his phone number, nor could I use her phone and use her minutes. (I offered her $5 to use her phone, but that offer was refused.) Your agents stated I could not make them leave even if I was an owner in the building because someone on the 4th floor buzzed them in. I said if they are guests of that person, they are now out of their apartment, so they need to leave my building. The girl in the beret said something like: Oh it’s your building, yeah right. And I clarified again, that I am an owner in the building and I want them to leave immediately. They said that the last building they were just in someone also called the police and that the police came and said they were allowed to be there. That of course is not true.

After asking the agents to leave for over 10 minutes, I called my super at 1:29pm hoping a man's presence would convince the agents to leave but he was not available. I then called IDT at 1:37pm @877-887-6866 and they said they could not call off their agents, and that I'd have to call the police. At 1:41pm I called 311 who transferred me to 911 because your agents were trespassing.

They continued door-to-door and I told each neighbor I saw that I have asked these agents to leave and that I called the police. One agent had already convinced my elderly neighbor to bring them their Con Ed bill and I also told that neighbor I had called the police.

Your agents pretended they called the police to report me and then they began knocking on doors on my first floor, and that is when I went to get my video camera. When officers from the 30th Precinct arrived they said they had received my call but had not received a call from your agents.

Here is the video that I put on youtube, as you will see, per request of your agent [name removed as requested] #6706306. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp1zhXVh_FQ

So far I've submitted it to Channel 7("7 on Your Side"), Fox ("Shame, Shame, Shame"), The Consumerist, The Gothamist, Curbed, NYC bloggers/websites (if they have articles about problems with your agents), and the NYS Public Service Commission.

Under § 140.05 of the New York Penal Law, "[a] person is guilty of trespass when he knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises.."

If indeed these are legitimate agents from your company, they have not represented you well. This is the third time in a few weeks your agents have entered my building and have gone to door-to-door. Please stop sending your agents to Harlem.

Then and Now: 5th Avenue and 36th Street

I love this photo. It was taken on September 4th, 1916 and looks at the southeast corner of 36th Street and 5th Avenue.

According to Tony, my guru of historical photos of Sunset Park, the building used to be a railroad storage yard, trolley barn, and repair shop. You can see the elevated railroad along 5th Avenue (who knew?!) on the right side of the photograph. The railroad split less than a block farther down 5th Avenue. The left turn-off went towards Coney Island on the Culver line, and the right turn-off went along 3rd Avenue to 65th Street, the last stop.


Today it's the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot; it's the same idea with a different application. The Green-Wood Cemetery's wrought iron fence now cages in the opposite corner. Obviously, the elevated railroad is gone. The building is less than aesthetically pleasing, and I'm partial to the brick and windows of 1916. Now you have to go down to the East River to see anything reasonably similar. Enjoy.

Look Both Ways on a One-Way Street

The irony, of course, is that I do look both ways on one-way streets. It's just habit, and good sense, really. And don't worry, I feel an immense amount of guilt about what happened yesterday. No one needs to lecture me about being more careful. Go ahead, if you must, I'm a traumatized mother right now.

Here's the short version:

Yesterday afternoon, I and my two cherubic imps were crossing 44th Street at 6th Avenue to enter Sunset Park at its main entrance. As we must because of the steep incline, I poked my head around the parked cars to look for on-coming traffic. Thanks to a double parked car loading items and another car backing up into a parking space down the street, it looked even more safe than usual. Phew. Then I looked up the street and saw an Elegante car service car backing up at 6th Avenue.

They often idle by the fire hydrant or the entrance of the park, so I figured this guy was backing up to the hydrant. I waited. He stopped, took it out of reverse, and sat there. Okay, so he's staying at the entrance. I looked back down 44th - all clear - and I started across the street.

When we were almost across the street, the Elegante car started backing up again. Into my stroller-bound kid. The handle of the stroller was pushed into my other kid (who was strapped to me), and the bumper of the car and the wheel were pushing my stroller and my son's legs along.

Now, I promised my husband a while ago that I would watch my language in front of my children. Sorry, honey. As I was tried to pull the stroller out from under the bumper, I started screaming about the car hitting my kid. (That was probably the most terrifying second and a half of my life. You can imagine what flashed through my head.) Then the palabrotas began.

With a crying baby strapped to me and a stunned toddler sitting in the stroller, I yelled in a colorful manner various versions of: car service cars are always backing up down the street, what does he think he's doing backing up on a one-way street, I was crossing at the crosswalk, my kids had better not be hurt, car service guys don't care about the residents they serve, blah blah blah.

I don't think the car service man was malicious. I don't even think he was particularly negligent. He explained he has children as well. He was so sorry. Are they alright. (In his nervousness he was smiling and trying to stop the baby's crying. Don't do that.) He was doing what the car culture of this block does. Yeah, I'm pissed off at him. Yeah, I think he was being careless. However, as angry as I am (maybe was) at this guy, I realized that mini-versions of this happen all the time. It's not a unique situation, and it's not something we cannot change.

That brought me back to the traffic calming issues we've been dealing with forever. A stop sign would not have changed this particular situation, but perhaps a painted crosswalk would have been a visual reminder to the driver that people cross into the park here. Look again.

So this morning, while my baby girl napped, I wrote to my friend Marty Markowitz to remind him about the traffic calming we have desired for so long. Perhaps a brush with injury will be enough to get something for our street here. Let's hope that it's not something more serious that draws attention to the need for traffic calming around the park.

So anyway, is anyone up for painting a few crosswalks ourselves?

Enjoy the weather, enjoy the park. Cross with extreme caution.

And, for good measure, here's the link for the traffic calming petition.

New York Times on Bob Guskind and the Future of Gowanus Lounge

* This isn't directly related to Sunset Park, and it's unusual in that it's more editorial than observation. So walk on by if that's not your thing. *

Today's New York Times has a short article pondering what will happen to Gowanus Lounge now that Bob Guskind is not around to plunge into the topics that generate joy and disgust and fear and hope across Brooklyn. I don't know about you all, but Gowanus Lounge was a bit of an addiction for me. It still is, even though new items haven't been posted since the obituary his close friends created as a post. I used to check in during the morning, and then back twice in the afternoon, baby's nap-willing. I always knew that there would be something new up since I last checked.

In the article, different people comment on whether or not Gowanus Lounge should be kept up. That is, whether other contributors could or should continue what Bob Guskind started - without his active input. I have to differ with one of the contributors when she said that new posts would be "pushing Bob's work down." While his work wouldn't be the "newest" postings (and thus not at the "top" of the page), his influence on bloggers across the borough has been so strong that anyone who helped GL to continue couldn't help but reflect some of Bob Guskind's work.

I think that if a small group of people close to RG, or one very motivated person, were to serve as publisher, Gowanus Lounge could continue in the same manner and form. There would be a lot missing; Guskind's passion for Coney Island and his biting commentary on irresponsible development have been echoed, but few have been able to match his in-depth and detailed "analysis" of the events closest to his heart.

Featuring the fun items like the "Street Couch Series" and videos from around Brooklyn could continue. Linking to various other sites that have compelling or just plain strange (or goofy) items could continue. Focus on development (and destruction) in Brooklyn could continue. Hopefully the passing of the Gowanus Lounge founder won't mean the death of something that meant so much to him. Hopefully it will mean that others who relied on Gowanus Lounge for information will be inspired to go out and find it, and then share it themselves. How great would it be if more people got involved in their neighborhoods, Community Boards, community councils, and so on? Imagine, something to talk about other than rents and square footage.

I think that would be a fitting legacy from someone who was intensely vigilant where Brooklyn's well-being was concerned.

Zum Geburtstag Viel Gluck, Papi!

My dad is 75 today. Amazing. Partly amazing because I don't think of myself as someone old enough to have a parent who is 75, but there you go. One of my favorite stories/memories about my dad is that he melted his wedding ring in the chemistry lab. Looking at the weirdly shaped ring and hearing the story was always a treat for us. I also loved hearing about how the only time he really felt like punching someone was after my middle sister was born. My dad was asked if they were planning on giving me back (I'm adopted). He's a great dad, and a super-duper grandfather. His deep voice puts both of his grandchildren into a relaxed stupor.

That's partly how I chose the poem for today. Goethe's "Erlkönig" is a popular poem for school children to memorize in Germany. Or it was. I remember my father reciting this poem to us, and I think we had a recording of it as well. It was very eerie. Being my righteous self, I was always angry that the father seemed to ignore his son's pleas to save him from the Erlking. Now, being a parent, I see that the father just wants to calm his son and keep him safe (while quelling his own worries) while they ride to the doctor's abode. This translation is not nearly as beautiful and haunting as the German, but it tells the story well enough. The link to the poem (see "Erlkönig" above) has some interesting ideas as to the origins of the poem, and it also guides an interested reader to other stories and connected literature. The illustration is by J. H. Ramberg.

For the few locals that know German, I'll post in both German and English. (It's much more beautiful in German.) Happy Birthday, Papi!

Erlkönig	Erlking
von J.W. Goethe	Translation by Hyde Flippo

Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?	Who rides so late through the night and wind?
Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind;	It's the father with his child;
Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm,	He has the boy safe in his arm,
Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm.	He holds him secure, he holds him warm.
«Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?» –	“My son, what makes you hide your face in fear?” –
Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht?	Father, don't you see the Erlking?
Den Erlenkönig mit Kron und Schweif? –	The Erlking with crown and flowing robe? –
«Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif.» –	“My son, it's a wisp of fog.” –
«Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir!	“You dear child, come along with me!
Gar schöne Spiele spiel' ich mit dir;	Such lovely games I'll play with you;
Manch bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand,	Many colorful flowers are at the shore,
Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand.»	My mother has many a golden garment.”
Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht,	My father, my father, and do you not hear
Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht? –	What the Erlking promises me so softly? –
«Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind;	“Be quiet, stay quiet, my child;
In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind.» –	In the dry leaves the wind is rustling.” –
«Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehn?	“Won't you come along with me, my fine boy?
Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön;	My daughters shall attend to you so nicely.
Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn,	My daughters do their nightly dance,
Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein.»	And they'll rock you and dance you and sing you to sleep.”
Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort	My father, my father, and do you not see over there
Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort? –	Erlking's daughters in that dark place? –
«Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau:	“My son, my son, I see it most definitely:
Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau.»	It's the willow trees looking so grey.”
«Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt;	“I love you; I'm charmed by your beautiful form;
Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt.»	And if you're not willing, then I'll use force.”
Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an!	My father, my father, now he's grabbing hold of me!
Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan! –	Erlking has done me harm! –
Dem Vater grausets, er reitet geschwind,	The father shudders, he rides swiftly,
Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind,	He holds in (his) arms the moaning child.
Erreicht den Hof mit Mühe und Not;	He reaches the farmhouse with effort and urgency.
In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.	In his arms the child was dead.

Then and Now: Greenwood Heights Reformed Church

This church was once called the Greenwood Heights Reformed Church, located on 45th Street and 7th Avenue. It's facade was really beautiful.


The white trim of the curving shape and the windows is still there. The GHRC was built in the 1800's and disbanded in 1972. Now it is the United Methodist Christ Church, and it houses a Head Start. The surrounding trees kept me from getting a solid shot of the entire building, but it's clear that not much has changed - other than the signs that don't fit in with the building at all.

Detritus is the fancy word. Crap is the reality.

Today, my poetic inspiration comes from my morning walk down 5th Avenue along Green-Wood Cemetery. I guess the construction has brought out the litter-hooligans. The walkway has always been a slalom course of broken bottles and various leftovers from a passionate night. However, now there is a whole world of new trash to explore. Poo bags in clusters, pee bottles in pairs, lots of unidentifiable paper products and personal items. If I looked closely, I'm sure I could figure them out, but I'll leave that to someone with a stronger stomach.

So I chose this poem because it talks about trash. Country trash. We have different trash here. We might not get bears who tear up our garbage bags, but we have feral cats, the occasional raccoon, and yes, even the elusive homo sapiens sometimes opens up bags in an artistic attempt to share what we feel is worthy to be thrown away. From watching Law & Order, I've learned that once you toss garbage out - onto the street for pick-up - it's fair game. So, there you go. Since this is all about trash, just be warned...there is a naughty word in this excerpt!

So here is an excerpt from William Matthews' "The Bear at the Dump."

from "The Bear at the Dump"

Amidst the too much that we buy and throw

away and the far too much we wrap it in,

the bear found a few items of special

interest--a honeydew rind, a used tampon,

the bone from a leg of lamb. He'd rock back

lightly onto his rear paws and slash

open a plastic bag, and then his nose--

jammed almost with a surfeit of rank

and likely information, for he would pause--

and then his whole dowsing snout would

insinuate itself a little way

inside...

...The guardian of the dump was used

to this and not amused. "He'll drag that shit

every which damn way," he grumbled

who'd dozed and scraped a pit to keep that shit

where the town paid to contain it.

The others of us looked and looked. "City

folks like you don't get to see this often,"

one year-round resident accused me.

Some winter I'll bring him down to learn

to love a rat working a length of subway

track.

Just Be Glad She Didn't Hurt Anyone Else

That's what I was thinking (and half wished I had yelled out my window) after the mini-drama I heard and then saw on the downward slope towards 5th Avenue. A girl, about eight or nine, was racing down the hill on a collision course with 5th Avenue. She was screaming bloody murder, which is what brought me to the window. I got to the window in time to see a man with Key Food bags step in her way to stop her.

I don't know if he put his 12-pack of paper towels between them, but considering her speed, he could have been seriously hurt. She tumbled to the ground, he stumbled back and then fell, and then it looked like he was asking her if she was alright. She just sat on the ground, perhaps stunned. Another woman started towards them, but never made it. No one else approached them.

A minute or so later (it's always hard to gauge in situations like this one), someone who may have been her mother or an older sister approached them. It didn't look like the very helpful he-just-kept-her-out-of-traffic-man was even acknowledged, let alone thanked. He started saying something, and I would tell you what I would have been saying, but it would need censoring. Why wasn't this child wearing a helmet? Why was she riding a dirt bike without manual brakes? What was she doing riding down the hill in the first place?

I know, kids do silly, naughty, crazy, dangerous things. And I'm sure I'll eat my words when my son gets to be old enough to ride a bike down a hill towards traffic. But I'll tell you right now, I might have thrown my 12-pack of paper towels in her way to stop her or at least guide her into a parked car in stead of a moving one, but I would not have jumped in her way. Uh-uh. Am I evil? Perhaps. I won't be getting a free ride to Disneyland anytime soon, that's for sure. All I was thinking (after I saw she was okay and walking her bike back up the hill, perhaps for another go) was what if my kid had been toddling up the hill and she ran into him? What if she had run into someone head-on and permanently maimed the person? What if? What if?

The supposedly responsible adult should have been giving the girl a stern talking-to instead of laughing all the way up the hill. At the very least, the guy who risked injury deserved more than the brush off he got. He'll probably be feeling it tomorrow.

Alrighty. The soapbox is returning to the hallway closet.

Four More Days to Enjoy the Pool!

The New York City Pools will be closing on Monday, so get yourself over to the Sunset Pool and enjoy it while you can. It's been incredibly empty lately, and lots of kids are learning to love the sand volleyball court as a sandbox.

The hours on Monday are ONLY from 11 - 3 PM, then it's over! Enjoy.


This photo is from the Sunset Park Pool in 1952.
I can't use it for the "Then and Now"
because I'd have no comparison; photos are not
allowed in the pool area now!

Then and Now: 4511 8th Avenue

Thanks to a reader who has much more experience than I do with finding historical photos of the neighborhood and beyond, I can show you a photo from around 1970 of 4511 8th Avenue. What used to be the Ritz Theatre became DANS SUPREME and later, Steve's C-Town Supermarket. If you enlarge the photos, you can compare prices on items like apple juice.

One of the changes is that two of the bricked up windows are now open again. The Steve's red paint also highlights the top facade a little bit more. Other than that, you can still see the closed up windows on the second floor haven't been touched or re-touched.

Thank you, Tony, for the DANS photo and more to come!

Then and Now: 44th Street Between 4th and 5th Avenues

This block is now busy with cars working their way up to 5th Avenue or through to New Utrecht/Fort Hamilton Parkways. It's also busy with people coming home or going to work thanks to the nearby R train stop. In this 1952 photo, it looks bare but neat. I love the guy standing in front of his building with his hands on his hips. That is definitely something that hasn't changed.

It's difficult to make a comparison due to the "new" trees lining this block. The brick facades have been replaced with subdued siding, and gas guzzling SUVs are popular...and they block the view as well.

Then and Now: Finland Congregational Church

Established in 1912, the Finnish Golgotha Congregational Church still sits at 733 44th Street, but now it's called the Brooklyn Baptist Church. The doors have recently gotten new handles (the beautiful old doors went a while ago), the stained glass has protective plexiglass - or something similar - to protect and dull the windows, and the prototypical message board adorns the outer wall, but otherwise it looks shockingly similar. Almost 100 years, and still lovely.

Sixth Avenue Walkdown - Shut cafe; Sink hole; Lost Brownstone update

So today, on my way to Three Guys from Brooklyn, I walked down Sixth Avenue from the park to 59th Street. Boy oh boy was there stuff to ponder.

First, I noticed this yesterday, but two days in a row makes me curious. Why has Miguel's Cafe been closed up? There's no sign about a vacation or violations. When I called the number, there was no answer. Anyone know what's up?




I was also interested in the development of the Demolished-Brownstone-turned-orange-brick. This is what it looks like as of today:


No work was going on, and it doesn't look like a lot of work has been done inside the building. Just orange brick jutting out from the front, so far. The description on the fence says that the first floor will be commercial, but neither of the stores that flank this building knew what kind of business would be joining them. Of the five brownstones on the block, only two have been un-contaminated with storefronts. There is a grocery, a laundromat, and now a mystery store. Perhaps it will be a beauty salon? That seems to be the third prong in storefronts for Sixth Avenue.

Then, as I continued along, I noticed a decent-sized sinkhole in the middle of Sixth Avenue at 56th Street. It is already filled with a garbage bag and several pieces of jetsam, including chunks of a book. It breaks my heart to waste reading material. The barrel left there for safety is now crushed, and the cones look like they're on their way out as well. At least it's in the middle of the street, I suppose. Drivers were using it as a chance to make very illegal moves around the intersection. In the 90 seconds I stopped there, I saw two almost accidents involving drivers who all knew THEY had the right of way. This particular location has had a few fill-in jobs already. I wonder how long it will be before a sink-hole large enough to swallow up a van will open up. Bay Ridge has had a few already.

In more positive displays, the most pleasant windows of Sixth Avenue are in full bloom. There are also two bright green planters with additional flowers/plants in front of this house. The person responsible has kept this display up for many weeks now. The photo doesn't do it justice, and the flowers are a lovely way to get over the sink-hole and orange-brick feeling.

Then and Now: Methodist Episcopal on 4th and 47th

Some things truly do stay the same. Not much difference shows up between this shot of Methodist Episcopal Church on 4th Avenue and 47th Street in 1945 and the same location in 2008. A little paint, different fencing, and more placards on the side of the building are about it. Well, that and a street light that blocks the view on the front door. Enjoy.

Plastic Bag Recycling Bill

I haven't noticed the official plastic bag recycling bins in the C-Town on 8th or the Key Food on 5th, but then I haven't really looked for them. I will next time I stop in. Both stores (and most larger food stores now) sell 99 cent reusable bags, which are much more pleasant to fill up than old, crinkled plastic bags. Even so, I'm better at reusing than recycling them. I know the bins are at some locations around Brooklyn. Here's proof.

So anyway, this email came to me via Christine Quinn's occasional updates, and I figured some people might be interested. It has to do with NYS passing legislation that would weaken the NYC law about recycling plastics in certain sized/chain stores. Enjoy.

from Quinn's email:

Earlier this year, the Council, together with Mayor Bloomberg, passed the New York City Plastic Carryout Bag Recycling Law (Local Law 1 of 2008), requiring stores across the City to establish in-store recycling programs for plastic bags and film plastic, such as plastic wrap, dry cleaning bags and newspaper bags. The law, which officially went into effect on July 23rd, applies to stores that use plastic bags and occupy 5,000 or more square feet or have more than five branches operating in New York City.

Despite all the hard work that went into making this law a reality, last month the State Legislature quietly passed a statewide plastic bag recycling bill that, if signed by Governor Paterson, would eliminate the City's program and replace it with a far weaker one dictated by Albany. For example, the State's bill would significantly reduce the number of stores in New York City required to recycle plastic bags. The State's bill also only applies to carryout bags (and not film plastic) and would do away with the City's ability to enforce any bag recycling law or ensure that businesses are in compliance.

Because you have been such an important ally in our efforts to help make New York a greener, more livable city, I am hoping you will join us in calling on Albany to take the necessary steps to ensure that the City's plastic bag recycling law remains in full effect. Please contact the state representatives below and urge them to modify the State's bill to allow the City's more robust plastic bag recycling program to continue:

Governor David Paterson
New York City Office
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 681-4580
E-mail: http://161.11.121.121/govemail

Speaker Sheldon Silver
New York State Assembly
250 Broadway, Suite 2307
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 312-1420
E-mail: speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos
New York State Assembly
55 Front Street
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Telephone: (516) 766-8383
E-mail: http://www.senatordeanskelos.org/9/Contact.aspx

Assembly Member Robert Sweeney
Chair, Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee
270-B North Wellwood Avenue
Lindenhurst, NY 11757-3708
Telephone: (631) 957-2087
E-mail: sweeney@assembly.state.ny.us

Senator Carl Marcellino
Chair, Senate Environmental Conservation Committee
250 Townsend Square
Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Telephone: (516) 922-1811
E-mail: http://www.senatormarcellino.com/5/Contact.aspx

Meanwhile, if you haven't begun to already, we encourage you to recycle your plastic bags and to let your friends and neighbors know about the program as well! If a store you believe should be participating in the program refuses to accept your plastic bags, please call 311 to report the problem.

Thank you in advance for helping us to preserve the City's plastic bag recycling law. If you would like to receive additional news and updates from the Council, please visit us online at www.council.nyc.gov. Just click on the "Sign Up for E-mail Updates" link at the top of our website and select the issues that most interest you and your community.

Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
New York City Council

Sunset Parents Want (more) Playground Equipment

The desire for improved playground equipment in Sunset Park came up again on the Sunset Park Parents group, and the Sunset Park playground is often the subject of heavy sighs and snarky comments. It's also incredibly crowded, which speaks to the popularity of the space despite the complaints. Then again, it may just mean that the many, many children in the area are desperate for playspaces (or their parents/caretakers are desperate to get them out and about).

Recently, one of the SPP group parents visited the Harmony Playground in Park Slope and was reminded that Sunset kids don't get funky water features (although the spitting sun is pretty funky with its new graffiti) and that one of the play areas has plywood covering broken floorboards. This one actually had one of the rods meant to keep kids from tumbling down, tumble down. Granted, it was because a teenager was sitting on it (and he promptly looked very innocent and said, "Damn. That's dangerous for the little kids. They need to fix that."). The Parks staff had it fixed with duct tape by the next day, and it was fixed more permanently within a couple of days. Much more quickly than I expected, to be honest. The run-down play area is actually the shorter one. I'm guessing it's designed for toddlers.

In fact, the overriding opinion on the SPP board seems to be that a completely separate area for toddlers, or pre-school and younger, would be ideal. Since several daycare centers and several elementary schools use the playground for daily recess breaks and for special outings, it can become quite the madhouse for the belly-first walkers, even before the 3 PM onslaught.

I took a closer look at the other two play areas today, and while they aren't sparkling or fancy or particularly clean, they do seem safe and in decent repair. The troublesome space seems to be the oldest one: the one made of actual wood. The one meant for the littlest kids.

There's a meeting of interested parents planned, and the enthusiasm seems very high. Hopefully progress can be made towards more child-friendly equipment. The concentration of young 'uns in the area shows now sign of slowing, that's for sure.